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Current Legislation

The 2015-2016 session of the California legislature presents an opportunity for our state to lead the way on several issues related to recycling, water pollution and other areas critical to a healthy environment. Click Here for Past Legislation

SIGNED INTO LAW! AB 1419 (Eggman) will avoid the environmental risk inherent in the stockpiling and export of glass from monitors and televisions, by creating a recycling framework for CRT panel glass that has grown less popular after the advent of LCD and LED screens. New LCD and LED technology for televisions and monitor screens has taken over and demand for old-fashioned Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) devices has dropped dramatically. The end-use market for CRT glass generated from recycling scrap CRT’s has dried up and recyclers across the nation are struggling with what to do with the glass. Today, old TV and computer monitors are stockpiling up throughout the state with no where good to go other than in the ground or over seas. Click here for more information.

AB 1239 (Atkins, Gordon) Tire Recycling : would reform incentive payments to increase the state's stagnant recycling rate and allow recyclers to compete with disposal, export and illegal dumping alternatives. This would help expand the state's tire recycling infrastructure to reduce greenhouse gases, create jobs, and cut the statewide and local costs associated with tire cleanup. The bill failed to pass the legislature before the August 31st deadline and is no longer active. Click Here for More Information.

SB 778 (Allen) will require that motor oil change shops follow the oil drain interval specified in the customer vehicle owner’s manual when recommending the date or mileage for the next oil change and that recommendations be reflected in the form of a window sticker or other means. The Senate and Assembly approved this bill, but it was vetoed by Governor Brown. Click Here for More Information.

SIGNED INTO LAW! AB 2530 (Gordon) will simply require manufacturers to report the amount of virgin and post-consumer plastic they purchase the previous year. The reported data will help CalRecycle and policy makers to better assess market demand for California RPET manufacturing compares with current collection and recycling levels, in order to better inform future policy. This is the same policy that is required of glass beverage container manufacturers since 1991. This bill was signed into law by Governor Brown September 29th, 2016. Click here for more information.

SIGNED INTO LAW! AB 1005 (Gordon) will extend the Plastic Market Development Program. The program has successfully increased the in-state processing and use of recycled plastic, spurring private investment and jobs. Prior to the existence of the program, less than 2 percent of plastic beverage containers collected for recycling were processed and manufactured into new products in California. The remainder was exported. By 2014, in-state plastic processing and use increased by more than 3,000 percent to almost 100,000 tons. This bill was signed into law by Governor Brown September 22nd, 2016. Click here for more information.

SIGNED INTO LAW! SB 1383 (Lara)would require a 75 percent reduction in statewide disposal of organic waste by 2025. This includes a goal of 20% of edible food that is currently disposed of to be recovered for human consumption. The bill aims to reduce of Short Lived Climate Pollutants, or "Super Pollutants", emitted in the state, including methane from the waste sector. This bill was signed into law by Governor Brown September 19th, 2016. Take Action Today!

SIGNED INTO LAW! SB 1287 (McGuire)is based on successful gear recovery programs in California that have proven effective, have the voluntary support of the fishermen and are self-sustaining. The bill promotes the retrieval of lost gear as an easy way to mitigate the increasing amount of ocean waste and wildlife entanglements. Click here for more information.

SIGNED INTO LAW! AB 2812 (Gordon)will ensure that state agencies have the recycling receptacles and staffing that is required to comply with the legislature's recycling mandates. This bill provides accountability for state agencies. Click here for more information.

AB 2725 (Chiu) will standardize date labels on food, creating one standard label for "best if used by" and one standard label for "expires on." Confusing, misleading, and cryptic food labels lead many consumers and stores to throw out perfectly healthy food every day. Date labels on food come in a dizzying variety of forms including “use by,” “best before,” “sell by,” and “enjoy by” dates, yet these simple markers are both poorly understood and surprisingly under-regulated, such that their meanings and time frames are generally not defined. This bill is no longer active. Click here for more information.

SIGNED INTO LAW! AB 888 (Bloom) would ban the sale of plastic microbeads contained in toothpaste, facial scrubs and other personal care products. The tiny pieces of plastic are dumped into oceans and fresh water sources by the trillions. They absorb environmental toxins before they are consumed by fish and wildlife, polluting our food chain. This bill was signed into law by Governor Brown. Please check out this wonderful video produced by AB 888 co-sponsor the Story of Stuff Project and click here for More Information.

SIGNED INTO LAW! AB 199 (Eggman)would provide a sales and use tax exemption on recycling equipment as well as manufacturing equipment that uses recycled material. With new equipment to process recyclable material into new, marketable projects, California businesses would be able to increase the demand for recyclable material. This bill has been signed into law by Governor Brown. Click here for more information.

AB 1447 (Alejo) would set a 10% minimum recycled content for PET (plastic) food and beverage containers and extend the current 35% minimum recycled content on glass currently applied to in-state manufacturers to all glass bottles filled or manufactured in state. This would increase demand for the materials that Californians recycle every day. Cheap global oil prices are encouraging the use of 'virgin' materials and increasing destructive mining and air pollution associated with their production. This bill was approved by the Assembly Committee on Natural Resources but was held in the Assembly Committee on Appropriations. Click Here for More Information.